The symptoms of chronic shoulder pain

Sometimes shoulder pain can be caused by an inflamed muscle from sleeping in an awkward position or overuse, or sometimes it can be caused by something more serious like injury to the shoulder joint itself, such as arthritis or tendonitis. The symptoms for both are often similar, but there are a few additional symptoms related to more serious shoulder conditions that you should be aware of. The common symptoms of shoulder pain include:

• Pain in the shoulder
• Numbness or tingling in the shoulder
• Limited mobility

If it’s a slight shoulder injury or condition, these symptoms should go away naturally within a few weeks or less. However, if your pain and symptoms continue or worsen, you should see a doctor. Symptoms related to more serious shoulder injuries include:

• Pain that travels from the shoulder to the arm, chest, neck or head
• Tingling or numbness in fingers or neck
• Grinding sensation when moving your shoulder
• Shooting pains during movement

If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your nearest physical therapist to begin treatment. Shoulder pain can often be treated nonsurgically through a series of physical therapy and other conservative treatment methods.